13 Days China Tour with Kungfu Visiting

Summary

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing
Day 2 Beijing:  Tian'an men Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace
Day 3 Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Beijing National Olympic Stadium (from outside), Chinese Kung Fu Show
Day 4 Beijing--Luoyang by Bullet Train: Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area, leave for Luoyang by train
Day 5 Luoyang: White Horse Temple, Shaolin Temple
Day 6 Luoyang--Xi'an by Bullet Train: Longmen Grottoes
Day 7 Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Xi'an Ancient City Wall, Tang Dynasty Show, Dumpling Banquet 
Day 8 Xi'an--Mt. Wudang: Shaanxi History Museum, Big Goose Pagoda, drive to Mt. Wudang
Day 9 Mt. Wudang: Golden Summit, Zixiao Temple, Nanyan Temple
Day 10 Mt. Wudang--Wuhan by "D" Train, drive to Shiyan for your train to Wuhan
Day 11 Wuhan to Shanghai by Flight: Yellow Crane Tower
Day 12 Shanghai: Jinmao Tower, Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road, The Bund
Day 13 Departure Shanghai

Day 1

Welcome to China! Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be greeted by our local tour guide with a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and escort you to your hotel directly. Our tour guide will help you check in, the rest of the day is free on your own to recover the jetlag.

Day 2

In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel lobby. And your China tour start.

Firstly, you will pay a visit for Tian'an men Square. It is the largest city plaza in the world. Tian'an men Square is the geographical center of Beijing City. It is the largest city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters (about 109 acres), and able to accommodate 1000000 people at one time. Tiananmen Gate on the northern square was the site where the Chairman Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Tian'an men Square

Next, you'll visit one of the world’s 5 most important palaces – Forbidden City, The Forbidden City, also named the Palace Museum, shares the honor of being one of five world-famous palaces with the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in England, the White House in the U.S. and the Kremlin in Russia. The incomparable palace occupies an area of 720,000 square meters (177.9 acres) and has approximately 8,700 rooms. A high red wall with a total length of 3,400 meters (3,718 yards) encases the palace. 

Forbidden City

Enjoy your lunch at the local famous Peking Roast Duck restaurant, taste the most famous duck in Beijing and try some local cuisine in Beijing.Roast duck — or Peking Duck, as it's often known — has been served in Beijing for around 600 years, according to Liu. First served by palace chefs during the Ming dynasty, it has royal pedigree.

In the afternoon, drive you to Temple of Heaven. The temple was constructed in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and was enlarged during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is the grandest cult architecture complex in the world and a masterpiece of the Chinese people created in ancient times. It covers 2,700,000 square meters (667 acres). Emperors of the two dynasties used to worship the heaven and pray for rich harvests, as the feudal emperors thought they were the son of the heaven. 

Temple of Heaven

Later, you will visit Summer Palace. It first built in 1750, largely destroyed in the war of 1860 and restored on its original foundations in 1886 – is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value.

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 3

Today your tour starts with Mutianyu Great Wall (around 1 hour for one way). There is an old saying goes "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall, you haven't seen China." Many of your friends who visited China before might have told you this. It is indeed an experience of life. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, Mutianyu section of Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. It's known for its beautiful surroundings - dense woods and rich pastures changing colors with the seasons of a year. 

Mutianyu Great Wall

Your lunch will be arranged nearby the Great Wall at a local Chinese restaurant.

After lunch, continue your tour to Ming Tombs, another highlight in Beijing. The Ming Tombs lie in Changping County, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest from the urban area of Beijing. It is actually a tomb cluster of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), including thirteen emperor's mausoleums, seven tombs for concubines and one grave for eunuchs.  

Drive you back to Beijing downtown, one the way you will visit the Beijing National Olympic Green Park (from outside), constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympics. You can take photo of Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Its located at the Olympic Green, the stadium cost US$428 million. The design was awarded to a submission from the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron in April 2003 after a bidding process that included 13 final submissions. 

Water Cube

"Water Cube" ( National Aquatics Center),  is one of the best venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, built with donations from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan compatriot and overseas Chinese. It was chosen through public appraisals as one of “China ten big new architecture views” by The U.S. magazine "Business Weekly". 

Enjoy your dinner at a local Beijing Chinese restaurant, drive you to enjoy one of most popular show in Beijing-Legend of Kung Fu Show. A thrilling modern day theatrical production, bringing together traditional Chinese martial arts and a vibrant show atmosphere.Performed daily at the widely acclaimed Beijing Red Theatre.

Lengend of Kung Fu Show

After finished the show, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Day 4

In the morning, your adventure will start with Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area. Hutong is a window into Beijing folk life. Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area is one of the best preserved historical areas in downtown Beijing, is famous for its hutong and siheyuan courtyards. Recently the popularity of Nanluoguxiang has increased noticeably with tourist numbers on the rise after 2008 Olympic Games. You will do a short walking along the authentic Beijing Hutong. Will give you a deep impression of the local residents’ live. 

Lunch will be arranged at a local Chinese restaurant.

Nanluoguxiang Hutong Area

After lunch, drive you to Beijing train station for your train to Luoyang. It takes around 4 hours. Once arrived at Luoyang train station, you will be greeted by our local tour guide at the exit of the train station with a welcome signage "China Private Tour". Our guide will take you have a dinner at local restaurant directly. 

After dinner, you will be taken back to your hotel in Luoyang.

Day 5

In the morning, our tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and drive you to White Horse Temple. White Horse Temple is the first Buddhist temple in China, established in 68 AD under the patronage of Emperor Ming in the Eastern Han dynasty capital Luoyang. The site is just outside the walls of the ancient Eastern Han capital, east of Luoyang in Henan Province. It is considered by most believers as "the cradle of Chinese Buddhism". The geographical landmarks to the south are Manghan Mountain and Lucoche River.

White House Temple

Your lunch is arranged at Shaolin Temple, to learn the temple diet and try some food in temple. Lunch at the Shaolin temple is served at 11:30 am and consists of tofu and rice paired with a mixture of five or six different types of raw or cooked vegetables. The monks do not use garlic, ginger, onions or any type of spice when preparing their meals, believing that spicy, hot or strong-smelling foods excite emotion. Water and tea is not served with meals in order to improve digestion, says Bo. If you are trying to replicate a Shaolin-style lunch at home, choose brown rice for additional fiber and avoid deep-frying the vegetables and tofu in favor of steaming or stir-frying with minimal oil.

After lunch, our tour guide will take you to explore Shaolin Temple, also known as the Shaolin Monastery, which is a Buddhist temple in Dengfeng County, Luoyang. Dating back 1,500 years when founded by Fang Lu-Hao, Shaolin Temple is the main temple of the Shaolin school of Buddhism to this day. Shaolin Monastery and its Pagoda Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Historic Monuments of Dengfeng".

Shaolin Temple

Drive you back to your hotel after the tour ends.

Day 6

Today you will start your tour with Longmen Grotto, the Longmen Grottoes are some of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art. Housing tens of thousands of statues of Buddha and his disciples. There are as many as 100,000 statues within the 2,345 caves, ranging from an 1 inch (25 mm) to 57 feet (17 m) in height. Longmen Grotto also contains nearly 2,500 stelae and inscriptions, whence the name “Forest of Ancient Stelae", as well as over sixty Buddhist pagodas. Situated in a scenic natural environment, the caves were dug from a 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) stretch of cliff running along both banks of the river. 

Longmen Grotto

Starting with the Northern Wei Dynasty in 493 AD, patrons and donors included emperors, Wu Zetian of the Second Zhou Dynasty, members of the royal family, other rich families, generals, and religious groups. Longmen Grotto is regarded as "an outstanding manifestation of human artistic creativity," for its perfection of an art form, and for its encapsulation of the cultural sophistication of Tang China. 

After lunch, drive you to Luoyang train station to catch your train to Xi'an. Upon arrival, our Xi'an local guide will meet you at the exit of train station with a welcome sign "China Private Tour" and drive you to your hotel directly. The rest day is free on your own.

Day 7

Today adventure begins with the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum is known as “the eighth Wonders of the world”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level in sculpture which is listed as the most significant discovery of the 20th century. Up to now, there has discovered a total of 179 accompanying burial pits of different connotations and various shapes in Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum area. The discovery of these pits has provided all important significance in the research of the burial system of the Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum, the characteristics structures and characteristics of the burial pits. However. What makes people feel amazing is that of all the burial pits, none has been found survived from being burnt down.

After lunch, drive you back to Xi'an downtown, you will head to Ancient City Wall. As one of the UNESCO's world Heritage Site, Xi'an Ancient City Wall was built in the 14th century, under the regime of Emperor Zhuyuanzhang in Ming dynasty, had the function of protecting the cities or towns as military defense systems in ancient China. The Ancient City Wall is one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Chinese city walls, exhibits the "complete features of the rampart architecture of feudal society". 

After the day tour, get the Shaanxi Grand Opera House around 6:00PM and our tour guide will help you find your seat for the Dumpling Banquet in the Opera House. Dumpling, or Jiaozi in Chinese, is one of the most representative Chinese food.

Nearly 20 varieties are made and inside the dumplings are stuffed with delicious vegetables, meats and seafood. Dumplings’ legend offers an original approach to Chinese food, merging the familiar comfort food of London’s Chinatown with the culinary heritage of regional oriental cuisine. 

Dumpling Banquet

After dinner, enjoy the local colorful and splendid Tang Dynasty Dance Show, which is a performance of music and dance that imitate the Tang Dynasty over one thousand-year ago. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, a wonderful performance of the ancient music and dance, is a must when you visit Xian. The city, which was formerly known as Chang'an has a very long history, and was the imperial capital during 13 dynastic periods. Of these, the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) was the most prosperous and glorious of all. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is an outstanding exponent of this ancient stable and prosperous society, keeping alive its splendid culture and providing an insight into the peaceful life style of the period. It seems as if you have lived in the palace of Tang Dynasty. 

Tang Dynasty Show

After finished Tang Dynasty show, drive you back to your hotel.

Day 8

Your first destination is Big Wild Goose Pagoda, or Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, is a Buddhist pagoda located in southern Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China and became the symbol of the old-line Xi'an. It was built in 652 during the Tang dynasty and originally had five stories. The structure was rebuilt in 704 during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, and its exterior brick facade was renovated during the Ming dynasty. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda attracts numerous visitors for its fame in the Buddhist religion and its simple but appealing style of construction. It is rated as a National Key Cultural Relic Preserve. One of the pagoda's many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Xuanzang.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Next stop is Shaanxi History Museum. Shaanxi History Museum is located to the northwest of the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, which is one of the four largest museum with modern facilities in China. The museum, built in traditional Tang architectural style, houses over 370,000 cultural relics, including murals, paintings, pottery, coins, as well as bronze, gold, silver, seal and stone objects, all of which can be dated back to over 1 million years ago to the late Qing dynasty. 

Shaanxi History Museum was regarded as “the pearl of ancient dynasties and house of Chinese treasures” where reflect over one thousand years of Chinese history, the splendid culture and people life in ancient times. The exhibition space is divided into an introductory hall, permanent exhibitions, special exhibitions, and temporary exhibitions, as well as one that has been named the National Painting Hall. It not only show the span of culture in ancient Shaanxi, but also show the highest level of cultural development of China's social economy.

Shaanxi History Museum

After lunch, transfer you to Mt. Wudang, which is another origin of Chinese Ku, especially for its Taichi Quan,to continue your exploration (It takes around 4.5 hours for one way). Our tour guide will help you check in after you arrived.

Day 9

After breakfast, your full day Wudang Mountain Taoism exploration starts. First, pay a visit to Wudang Museum to get a basic understanding about Taoism before visiting the sacred mountain. Walking through the eight halls, you can learn about the history of Taoism, architecture, celebrities, Taoist statues, folk customs, music and martial arts.

Wudang Museum

Next, take toursit bus to Qiongtai Palace with 14 temples preserved where is the starting point of cable car and take a cable car to the highest peak in Wudang - Tianzhu Peak at 1613 meters and explore Golden Summit(Jinding or Peace of Harmony), which is the symbol of Wudang Mountain, for a panoramic view of the Taoist mountain and temples. With the impressive natural sea of clouds, sunrise and sunset, lush forests and rocks, the Palace of Harmony is like a heaven on earth. After having a wonderful time on the summit, enjoy a walk to admire Taihe Temple if your energy permits. 

Golden Summit

Later, head to Purple Cloud Palace, one of the best preserved palaces with 9 buildings and 182 rooms on Wudang Mountain. Looking from the axle wire, the constructions locate there symmetrically along the mountain, splendid and gorgeous.

Purple Cloud Temple

After that, continue your tour to Nanyan Palace to explore this stunning palace on the cliff and visit various Taoist temples, stylish architectures and cliff inscriptions. If you are interested in Tai Chi or other Kung Fu learning, you can take 1 or 2 hours Kung Fu experience course under the guidance of professional Taoist masters.

Later, take cable car down and drive you back to your hotel after dinner.

Day 10

Free on your own until our driver pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Shiyan train station to catch the train to Wuhan, it takes around 4 hours. You will be picked up at the exit of Wuhan train station with a welcome signage "China Private Tour" and drive you to your hotel in Wuhan.

Day 11

In the morning, our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and take you to the one of famous attractions in Wuhan-Yellow Crane Tower. If you're in Wuhan, an absolute must-see is the Yellow Crane Tower. Regarded as one of the Four Great Towers of China, the tower stands on the banks of the Yangtze River at the top of Snake Hill. It is incredibly beautiful and its cultural significance led to its being made the symbol of Wuhan city. It goes without saying that it is one of Hubei's most popular tourist attractions. 

Yellow Crane Tower

After lunch, you will be transferred to Wuhan airport for your flight to Shanghai. Once you arrived, our Shanghai guide will meet you at the exit of airport with a welcome sign "China Private Tour" and drive you to your hotel in Shanghai directly. The rest of the day is free on your own.

Day 12

In the morning, our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel. 

Firstly, you will visit Shanghai Museum, which is a museum of ancient Chinese art, situated on the People's Square in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, China. The museum was founded in 1952 and was first open to the public in the former Shanghai Racecourse club house, now at 325 West Nanjing Road, it was rebuilt at its current location in 1996, it is considered one of China's first world-class modern museums. The museum has a collection of over 120,000 pieces, including bronze, ceramics, calligraphy, furniture, jades, ancient coins, paintings, seals, sculptures, minority art and foreign art.

Shanghai Museum

You will have lunch at a local Chinese restaurant, where you can enjoy authentic Shanghai food.

After lunch, drive you to the Lujiazui and visit the famous Jinmao Tower to have an eye-bird's view of Shanghai city. Jin Mao Tower is located in the center of Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone in Pudong.The 88-stories Jin Mao Tower was completed in 1999. It is 420.5 meters (almost 1,380 feet) tall and covers an area of 2.3 hectares (5.68 acres). The architect, Adrian D. Smith, of this skyscraper ingeniously combined the elements of traditional Chinese culture with the newest architectural styles of the time, which makes it one of the best-constructed buildings in China.

Jinmao Tower

Then proceed to visit the "Pedestrians only" Nanjing Road, a walking bustling street that is always packed with people waching other people. When people mention Shanghai's Nanjing Road, they're probably talking about East Nanjing Road, a pedestrian shopping street running for blocks between the northeast corner of People's Square and the Bund. Nanjing Road, 5.5 km in full length, enjoys the reputation as China No. 1 commercial center. It was the earliest commercial street in Shanghai since the city opened to the outside world.

Nanjing Road

After that, move on to The Bund, the Bund is a waterfront area in central Shanghai. The area is in the eastern part of Huangpu District centers on a section of Zhongshan Road ,which runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River, facing the high, modern skyscrapers of Pudong,Traditionally, the Bund begins at Yan'an Road in the south and ends at Waibaidu Bridge in the north, The Shanghai Bund on which you can embrace the best cityscape, feast on the rich architectural fashions ( Gothic, Baroque, Rome, Renaissance, Classic and Mixed Eastern and Western style, etc.) 

Shanghai Bund

After dinner, drive you back to your hotel.

Day 13

Free on your ownuntil our driver transfer you to the airport and you can fly back home. And your 13 Days Chinese Kung Fu Tour come to the ends. Have a pleasant trip!

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All  transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharing one standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels, Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered 6. Admission Fee: All first admission/entrance fee     s in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.